Eli gave birth to a daughter when she was 14 and gave her up for adoption very much against her wishes. Now, thirty years later, she thinks she's seen that girl and becomes obsessed,. Luckily, she has a strong partner in Thomas. it's a good emotional read.

I enjoyed Before You Were Mine but there wasn't much about it that made it too memorable or special. I liked Eli but she was obsessive over strangers and desperately needed therapy to help her move on from the daughter she lost at birth. I struggled with her character because it was hard for me to feel too invested in her story. I'd feel bad for her but then two pages later her behavior was horrifying and put others at risk.

The ending felt awkward and the reveal(s) regarding her husband and his past behavior came too little too late for me. It was an average book and it's a decent beach read or something during the summer but there was nothing in it that impacted me too much. It's a book I don't regret reading but it's nothing I'll remember 6 months from now either.

Any book with a focus on motherhood always effects me in some way, but I don't think I've read anything in quite awhile that has had such a profound effect on me and tugged at my emotions the way Before You Were Mine did. Eli was pregnant at just fourteen and her baby was taken from her against her wishes, such a heartbreakingly sad situation for such a young girl. She's never stopped thinking about her daughter and now, thirty two years later, she thinks she may have actually found her. I adored following Eli on her highly emotional journey, there was tears, laughter and so much heart.

Eli is one of those characters that steals a piece of your heart as soon as you meet her. She has an innocent charm, a simple easy way about her that I just loved. She's had so much pain and loss in her life yet she still perseveres, I admired her grit and spunk. She becomes obsessed with the idea that a random stranger in the grocery store is actually her long lost daughter and her pain was so honest and raw. I was so emotionally invested in the outcome and was ultimately satisfied in the end.

Muslin has a very eloquent writing style, she paints such a pretty picture with vivid descriptions and evocative language. I was captivated by the story she told and was sad to say goodbye to Eli when it ended, that's always a wonderful sign! This was an amazing debut, I look forward to seeing what Muslin comes up with next.

I was given an ARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.

I love the cover of this book - beautifully designed! I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but I saw the cover and thought it looked interesting.

I enjoyed the storyline and warmed to Eli and Tommy - I found myself wanting to tell them things, pushing them to the right people, in the right direction etc.

However, I found at times that the book was hard to read due to its pace - at times, the pace was really slow, to the point I had to force myself to read it, as I knew I really want to see if Eli had her happy ever after, but at the end the storyline sped up and everything seemed to happen at once.

Eli made me want to cry for her and rage at her, both at the same time, especially as the story drew to a close and the various truths were revealed.

I hated her family and Daisy too, and I really wanted to give her hateful mother a good shake! It's testament to the author's writing skill to be able to cause such feelings in a reader. 

I felt Eli's pain throughout and simply adored Tommy because of his unstinting love for her, his awkwardness, his determination to try to put things right for her. 

The whole book was riveting from start to finish. There are a couple of loose ends and not everything becomes rosy - but that's the way life is, and the realism in this story,  and the way the ordinary lives of ordinary people is reflected in the descriptions and the characters makes for a fascinating read.

I was so excited to read this book. The blurb made me want to jump in asap. Unfortunately, this book was not for me. Instead of finishing it when I didn't enjoy, or rating unfavorably, I DNF'd the book.

This was such a moving book. It took me a little while to get into, I think it was because of the style, although I have to say once I got into it and envisaged the scenes, the settings, and the background, I found I couldn't put it down. It doesn't say, but I imagined it to be set some time ago, in a poor village where everyone knows everyone else's business. I absolutely fell in love with Eli - she is such a caring and beautiful person, I did feel sorry for her as she hasn't had the best life, but she does her best to keep her husband happy and make the best of the life she has. A shocking thing has happened to Eli in the past- which we don't find out entirely about until later in the book - which explains her behavior and even her whole personality, always trying to please. Eli and her husband Tommy, a lovely caring man who loves her dearly, are unable to have children and have settled for a life together, albeit a simple life. Eli adores her husband and takes her role as the homemaker very seriously (wish I wanted to clean my house like she does!). However a sadness surrounds them, and as the story unfolds we understand why Eli is as obsessive as she is. This is a book that will touch on all levels, mothers, daughters. fathers, sons. It is a beautiful story told from someone who has suffered loss and continues to live with the day to day consequences of a decision taken away from her at a young age. It may take some time to get the characters out of my thoughts. A compelling book that I would recommend.

This story was heart wrenching, yet with a happy ending after so many years for the main character, yet she kept on searching and hoping until her prayer was finally answered.
I liked the book, though be prepared to use some tissues during the different chapters.

Well, I haven't gone back to this book since I left it on May 1, 1917 after making it through 34%.

I keep looking at it on my currently reading list and I just can't seem to want to pick it back up.

The blurb hints at even crazier things that Eli does when she meets a woman who she thinks is the newborn daughter she had to give up over 30 years ago. I have already seen a lot of crazy and frankly, I just could not get into this character.

As much as it kills me, because I hate to leave a book unfinished, I am going to have to close the cover on this one. It just isn't for me.

Thanks to HQ Digital and Net Galley for approving and providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

When Eli Bell falls pregnant at the tender age of fourteen her world falls apart. She has brought shame on her family and they will never let her forget it. Her life is ruined. She refuses to disclose the parentage of her daughter at any cost. All she wants is it out of her mind forever and to get on with life; rebuilding a future for herself. She gives birth to a perfect daughter but is forced to give her baby away, although she has already fallen in love with her when she lay developing in her womb. Small minded members of her community wage a war of disapproval on her, but she is determined to hold her head up.
Eventually Tommy pays court to her to the immense relief of her family. They want her off their hands. They marry and hope to raise a family together, but it is not meant to be. Secretly Eli worships her daughter, always reminding herself that she will always be a mother and she will never stop loving her daughter. She keeps mementos hidden away from Tommy, who is also haunted by harbouring dark secrets of his own. Nobody knows her hurt, her regret or her secret. Tommy is ashamed to admit what he knows. As the years pass Tommy brings home an abandoned kitten for Eli to smother with love. Mississippi follows her everywhere and she loves him with all her heart, but still she pines for her precious daughter. Life goes on and it seems as though everyone is unhappy, unsatisfied and just marking time.
Over thirty years later Eli sees a woman who she believes with all of her being is her lost daughter. She becomes obsessed with tracking down and befriending this young lady, planning to take it slowly before she reveals that she, Eli, is her birth mother, imagining a life with her daughter, her husband and her granddaughter. She yearns for true happiness that her new family will bring into her stale, worthless life. She cannot possibly have mistaken their resemblance; they must be her lost family. The story of what happens next is full of plot twists, but this is for you to find out for yourself: there are no spoilers in this review.
'Before You Were Mine' is Em Muslin’s debut novel. It is a harrowing, slow-paced story of a young girl’s life overshadowed by events of the past. The storytelling is very descriptive and flowing and the characters are carefully developed. I felt immense compassion for Eli, one of life’s outcasts who had been denied the one thing that would have made her happier than anything else in the world. I intensely disliked her family who were always putting her down. I felt that the pace of the story was unequal throughout. It was extremely frustrating and depressing for a majority of the story, only really coming to life near the end when secrets are revealed, misunderstandings cleared up and things are sorted out. I did not like the sudden ending at all.
I would like to thank NetGalley and HQ Digital for my copy of this book, sent out in return for an honest review. I did struggle to keep reading at times but overall I wanted to find out if Eli would have her ‘happy ever after’ ending and this kept me reading. It’s a 2.5* rating from me as I disliked the flourishing detail and thought the pace would have been far more acceptable with less detail.

Lovely book. Pulled at the heartstrings. Nice characters and enjoyed from the word go. such a sad story and you really felt for them

Fourteen year old Eli Bell had succeeded in turning her best friend from her, and disgracing her ma, pa and three brothers – Eli had found herself pregnant and although she was a kind and gentle natured girl, she was lonely. But when Eli gave birth (after a pain she’d had no idea about) to a beautiful, sweet baby girl, and the nurse took her away, Eli’s life changed. Her loneliness ate into her soul – she knew she had no one; her family wouldn’t speak to her - nobody wanted anything to do with her.

Until the day Tommy came to take her out. Tommy worked with her Pa at the car repairs business and slowly a friendship and then love developed. When Eli and Tommy were married, her ma and pa were just happy to be rid of her.

Thirty two years later, while buying pickles from the store, Eli swore she saw her daughter in front of her. Even though she had only seen her baby girl once and that was immediately after her birth, Eli was so sure this was her girl. And finding her developed into an obsession for Eli…

What would be the outcome of Eli’s desperate search? And what would Tommy’s role be beside his wife?

Before You Were Mine is the debut novel by Em Muslin and is filled with compassion, emotion and love. There is also heartbreak and loss on a scale most mothers would appreciate. The author has written a great story which will have a lot of fans in my opinion. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for my digital copy to read and review.

I enjoyed the story and really wanted to know how things would work out - I could feel Eli was on the wrong path and hurt for her, so the ending was a lovely gift.

However, I found the descriptives about the dusty, sweaty environment was a little oppressive and the way Eli was constantly described as dowdy and downtrodden as a little laboured.

It didn't detract from the book itself, but it did stop from loving it - rather than just liking it,

Before you were mine was an enjoyable book but not amazing. It kept me interested and I liked the main characters, but I disliked a lot of the other characters. I would have liked to see their relationship develop further.

When Eli was 14 years old she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and put her up for adoption. Eli's life has been very hard. After having the baby, her one friend won't speak to her and Eli's family blames her for getting pregnant so very young. Now over 30 years later, Eli is married to a wonderful man Tommy. One day while Eli is at the grocery store she runs into a young woman who she thinks is her daughter. Tommy must try and save Eli from obsession. This is a beautiful story of loss, hope, and love. Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for providing me an ARC for an honest review.

BEFORE YOU WERE MINE BY EM MUSLIN

I was given this digital copy by Net Galley, Em Muslin, and HQ Publishing in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Anybody that has ever given birth knows the profound love that a mother, father. grandparent or extended family or friends feel towards the new baby. It is one of the most powerful experiences we ever feel. We love the new addition to our family with an attachment that is incredibly deep and knows no boundaries. I can't even begin to imagine the searing pain of the main character Eli Bell who after just hours after giving birth is forced to give up her baby for adoption. All I know is that it was painful reading this debut book. I did not enjoy anything about the reading experience of this story.

Ma and Pa Bell and all of Eli's brothers are cruel to her. Eli is shunned by the whole community. Years later Eli marries Tommy who is the only person to be kind to her. Tommy and Eli try to have a baby and are not fortunate to get a chance to have the family they long for. Tommy works for Pa, Eli's dad in a gas station where he is a mechanic. Eli describes Tommy with the constant smell of oil and black grease that she remembers growing up with her father and brother's. Eli and Tommy invite Ma and Pa Bell and all of her brother's over for dinner and her mother complains about the food--the way it is prepared is going to upset Pa's stomach, says Ma as she dishes out tiny portions to Eli's father. Eli's father takes more because he is enjoying the food.

Thirty years later Eli spot's a woman who she thinks is her daughter in a supermarket that is inconvenient for Eli because she is still shunned or too ashamed to shop in the local grocery store. Eli has a strong feeling that this is her daughter but when she shares the news with Tommy he thinks Eli is crazy for her thoughts. Eli starts driving to this grocery store everyday, even though she doesn't buy anything, hoping to see her daughter again. Many days that Eli goes to the same supermarket she doesn't see her daughter and is disappointed.

Then one day Eli gets her wish and see's who she thinks could be her daughter driving into the parking lot with a small blonde haired little girl. Eli follows them into the supermarket and approaches the little girl while her mother is down the aisle. The woman who Eli think's is her daughter approaches and remember's Eli as the woman who cut her hand on a piece of broken glass when Eli dropped and broke a jar of pickles. The woman ask's Eli how her hand is and introduces Eli to her little girl.

Eli doesn't tell her husband Tommy about this second sighting she has had of her maybe daughter. Eli does get upset with Tommy when he tells her that the car is going to be out of commission because a part needs to be ordered and the car needs to be fixed. This means for a couple of days Eli will not be able to show up at the grocery store randomly, daily waiting for the woman who Eli thinks is her daughter to appear. Eli clearly is obsessed with this woman and her little girl.

This novel may find an audience that likes the story. The bonds between a mother, any parent are strong and maybe a woman might recognize thirty years later her child. I won't spoil the reading experience by divulging if Eli is correct or mistaken. I wish there was somebody in Eli's life who was kind to her in the mean- time besides Tommy. A single family member? Or friends? Anybody in the community to show Eli some kindness of which there is none shown. What are the consequences of Eli's obsession with this woman who she thinks is the daughter she gave up for adoption thirty years ago? Eli is willing to do anything to find a way into this woman's life. Even if it means lying...

Yesterday I finished a modern -contemporary story, "Mrs. Fletcher", by Tom Perrotta.
There was mention of computers, cell phones, texting, sexing, tattoos, competitive athletic teams, Hot Yoga, college drinking, lots of take out eating, and traffic. And... that's just the tip of the iceberg of the modern life Tom Perrotta painted.

It was perfect timing the switch gears and read a different type of novel.....which takes place in Springfield, Illinois.
I ESPECIALLY LOVED THE 'CALM' - TRANQUIL- LYRICAL WRITING.
Em Muslin's prose is as beautiful as as the story she constructs.

Eli Bell, never recovered from the devastation of having a nurse take her baby girl away - walking out the room - seconds after her baby was born - never to return. Eli was only 14 years of age at the time.
Eli had three older brothers - a ma and a pa.
Daisy Jones, "elected" Eli as her best friend when they were kids. "It doesn't hurt to look prettier than the girl next to you and she sure was pretty". Eli was 'happy' to have a friend: "two peas in a pod". Eli didn't have a jealous bone in her body.

Once people found out Eli was pregnant, nobody would talk with her. Her mom ignored her and her best friend Daisy couldn't get away fast enough.
Eli never returned to school after her baby was born and taken away. She knew deep down that she was a disgrace to her Ma and Pa.
Ma would buy her groceries in the next town over to avoid "folk whispering the way the do".
Eli lived with the loss of her child - and the daily reminder that she brought shame and humiliation into her family's home.

There wasn't anybody being an advocate of kindness to Eli.....until Tommy, her husband. And thank God for Tommy!
Tommy, is a lifesaver in Eli's life. Not traditionally handsome, but a beautiful man. Red hair - freckles and all!

Eli thinks she sees her daughter one day -- 32 years later....in a supermarket while buying pickles.

I'm not going to tell what happens....( give away the plot of story and it's journey to the end), .....NO SPOILERS....
but Em Muslin wrote a lovely book. She's a natural born storyteller....a compassionate storyteller...creating a wonderful experience of life with less external distractions than life today -- in the fast lane. It's a peaceful treat.

Gorgeous descriptions of the land - cotton fields - the heat -apple orchard - billowing sheets hanging in the yard, running through backyards, burning blue skies, smells of Eli's cookin, and some belly laughs about a raccoon called 'Stumpy'!
It's.......
......refreshing that there are no cell phones or computers.
......refreshing that Eli loves to cook and takes pride in the things she 'can' do.
......refreshing that Eli is of a gentle heart to those who have not always been so with her.
.....refreshing that Eli appreciates a simple pleasure: a 'woman's world' magazine.
..... refreshing the Tommy is proud of the meals Eli cooks.
..... refreshing that Eli and Tommy 'fit' so nicely together. Eli said, "It wasn't so much love at first sight but his smile sure as hell made my heart sing". They made marriage look effortless.

You'll fall in love with "Mississippi", the cat that Tommy brings home one day to Eli.
It was so tiny it weighing less than 3 ounces. Scrawny, crusty eyes, and weak that first day. Eli brings Mississippi back to life....sleeps with all night long. They become connected at the hip!
I'm guessing Em, our author, loves 'cats'..... :). I have a soft spot for cats too! We had Kuggle for 14 years. We've have a couple neighborhood cats in our yard every day too. We consider them cousins.

Mississippi adds extra 'luv' to this story!

.....Eli's 'forever' love for the daughter she loss is breathtaking.
Eli says, "I knew what love were, when I held you in my arms. I felt it surging through my veins, when you wriggle this way and that. I live in bed at my Ma's house and I feel you kicking my tummy, as if to say 'don't forget 'bout me'. I'd stroke my belly and whisper to you under the bedsheets, and even now I do the same".
Eli has Tommy.... as great of a husband any women could ask for. - Parents never treat her like Tommy does....
But Eli 'never' forgets about the baby she lost. Great unfolding & surprises.

Thank You H Q DIGITAL.... Harper Collins Publishing, Netgalley, and DEBUT AUTHOR....'Em Muslim'. I'm a new fan! ( note... some days I need books like this one). I'd love to see Eli again!!!! Great character!!!

Sorry struggling with this at the moment will try again another time